2019 NCAA Division III Men’s Championships: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

As they've stressed the importance of "winning the morning" throughout the duration of the meet, the Kenyon Lords will look to set themselves up for big points tonight. Archive photo via Kenyon Athletics/Carlos Morales

Collin Miller, last night’s 100 breaststroke champion, topped the field in the first circle seeded heat in a time of 44.19. Sain Vincent’s Jacob Davis was on his hip the entire race, as he claimed the runner-up spot with his 44.68. Kenyon freshman Joe Black rounded out the top three, stopping the clock at 44.85.

Emory’s Trey Kolleck took it out fast, as he was the only one in the field under 21 at the first 50, and continued with that momentum all the way to the wall to take first in the second fastest heat in 43.98. His teammate Sage Ono outside-smoked his way into his first championship final appearance of this meet, taking second with a 44.54.

The fastest returner from last year’s final in Tuft’s Roger Gu is your top qualifier heading into tonight’s finals, as he won the final circle seeded heat in a time of 43.87. Franklin & Marshall freshman Chris Schiavone is having a phenomenal NCAA debut, as he picked up second in the heat with a 44.16. Pomona Pitzer’s Lukas Menkhoff completed the top three of the heat with his 44.92 for third.

MEN’S 200 YARD BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

NCAA Record: 1:43.49 3/21/2015, Harrison Curley, Kenyon

FINALS QUALIFIERS:

Albert Litschgi, Chicago – 1:45.07

John Bauer, WPI – 1:46.35

Bebe Wang, Denison – 1:46.37

Liam Picozzi, Denison – 1:46.59

Peyton Wilson, Wash U. – 1:46.60

Craig Smith, Amherst – 1:46.80

Emile Kuyl, John’s Hopkins – 1:46.82

Mick Bartholomew, Kenyon – 1:46.88

Dylan Wachenfeld, John’s Hopkins – 1:47.35

Matthew Rogers, Emory – 1:47.63

Patrick Pema, Emory – 1:47.67

Kingsley Bowen, Tufts – 1:47.79

Justin Britton, Carnegie Melon – 1:47.84

Lawrence Redmon, Emory – 1:48.12

Keda Song, Chicago – 1:48.17

Colin Reardon, Kenyon – 1:48.20

Defending NCAA champion Bebe Wang claimed the top spot in the first of the circle seeded heats, stopping the clock at 1:46.37. This year’s 400 IM champion Mick Bartholomew in the first swim of his double today followed closely behind in 1:46.88. Emory’s Matthew Rogers had a big last 50 to take the third spot with his final time of 1:47.63.

Worcester Polytechnic’s Jack Bauer held off a charging Emile Kuyl of John’s Hopkins to emerge victorious in the second circle seeded heat, as the two posted times of 1:46.35 and 1:46.82. Tuft’s Kingsley Bowen, an A-finalist from last year, netted third with his 1:47.79.

Chicago’s Albert Litschgi had a monster second 100, and will now head into tonight as the top qualifier with his preliminary time of 1:45.07 – making the only swimmer in the heats to dip below 1:46. Denison’s Liam Picozzi had a big swim from lane eight, taking the runner-up position with his 1:46.59. Wash U.’s Peyton Wilson picked up third in a time of 1:46.60.

MEN’S 200 YARD BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

NCAA Record: 1:50.80 3/18/2017, Andrew Wilson, Emory

FINALS QUALIFIERS:

Lance Culjat, Chicago – 1:58.45

Jeffrey Leckrone, Mary Washington – 1:58.97

Jason Hamilton, Emory – 1:59.09

Sean Mebust, Amherst – 1:59.11

Simon Deshussess, Wash U. – 1:59.31

Nolan Monahan, Merchant Marine – 1:59.62

Richie Kurlich, Denison – 1:59.66

Tanner Sonnek, Gustavas Adolphus – 1:59.85

Humphrey Pruett, Kenyon – 2:00.31

Ryan Stevenson, Denison – 2:00.43

Tiernan Foster-Smith, Denison – 2:01.02

Ryan Grady, Whitworth – 2:01.03

T-Mick Bartholomew, Kenyon/Eric Fuhs, Coast Guard – 2:01.o7

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Justin Lum, NYU – 2:01.49

Kevin Van Cleave, Wash U. – 2:01.65

Mary Washington’s Jeffrey Leckrone took the top spot in the first circle seeded heat, touching the wall in a time of 1:58.97. Emory freshman Jason Hamilton followed closely with his 1:59.09, while Nolan Monahan of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy picked up third in 1:59.62.

Lance Culjat of Chicago took it out quick in the second to last heat – splitting a 55.87 at the first 100 – and never looked back, topping the field from lane two in a time of 1:58.45. Sean Medust of Amherst held off a charging Richie Kurlich of Denison, as two picked up the second and third spots in times of 1:59.11 and 1:59.66.

Tanner Sonnek representing Gustavus Adolphus closed out the event with a victory in the final heat, touching the wall in a final time of 1:59.85. Denison’s Ryan Stevenson charged home in the final 50 to pick up second in a time of 2:00.43. Wash U.’s Kevin Van Cleave netted third with his 2:01.65.

Kenyon’s David Fitch (45.95), AJ Reid (44.90), Tommy Weiss (44.73), Robert Williams (44.62) closed out the first heat with the win, combining for a final time of 3:00.20. John’s Hopkins finished closely behind in 3:00.88.

Trey Kolleck of Emory had a scorching anchor leg split of 43.59 to secure the win in the second heat, as the Eagles relay of Sage Ono (44.64), Collin Lafave (45.09) and Alex Kohlman (45.40) recorded a time of 2:58.72. Calvin followed in tow with their final time of 3:00.45.

Denison closed out the preliminary sessions with a victory in the final heat, as Kenny Fox (45.80), Eric Gerlach (44.61), Matt McHugh (44.78) and Drake Horton (44.41) touched the wall for a final time of 2:59.60, the last team under 3:00 in the heats. They held off Pomona-Pitzer’s squad, who finished second in the heat with their 3:00.77 final time.

MEN’S 3M DIVING – PRELIMS

NCAA Record: 645.70 2/12/2014, Connor Dignan, Denison

MEN’S 1650 YARD FREESTYLE – SLOWER HEATS

NCAA Record: 14:56.44 12/1/2016, Arthur Conover, Kenyon

Top 8 Morning Swims:

Bryan Fitzgerald, Kenyon – 15:28.56

Christopher Arena, John’s Hopkins – 15:38.33

Richard Dauksher, Carnegie Melon – 15:39.65

Jamie Lovette, Williams – 15:39.77

Keven Stahl, York – 15:44.56

Richard Reinhard, Wash U. – 15:45.41

Jonathan Smithson, Wash U. – 15:45.75

Joshua Graves, MIT – 15:47.90

Kenyon’s Bryan Fitzgerald capped off his exceptional freshman NCAA debut with a new lifetime best of 15:28.56 – over an 11 second drop from his original seed time. That time would have finished third overall in this event last year, and would have been the Lords’s highest finish in the event.

John’s Hopkins sophomore Christopher Arena also dropped three seconds from his seed to post the second fastest swim of the morning with a 15:38.33. Although he didn’t even compete in this event last year, that time would have earned him seventh.